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Built under a Maritime Commission contract (hull number 7) as the civilian tanker Esso Trenton.

Acquired by the Navy on 22 October 1940; classified as a "Fleet Oiler", designated AO-28 and renamed Sangamon.

Designated for conversion to an "Aircraft Escort Vessel", was reclassified AVG-26 on 14 February 1942.

Converted to an aircraft carrier by the Newport News Shipbuilding and Drydock Co., Newport News, Va.

Reclassified as an "Auxiliary Aircraft Carrier" and redesignated ACV-26, 20 August 1942.

Reclassified as an "Escort Carrier" and redesignated CVE-26, 15 July 1943.

Fate: Sold to Hillcone Steamship Co., San Francisco; delivered on 11 February 1948.The following information was provided by Gerhard Mueller-Debus:
According to Lloyd's Shipping Index she was later owned by World Commerce Corp., New York (Lloyd's,
Jul 1, 1952); by Maritime Transportation Co. S.A., Panama (Lloyd's, Jan 23, 1958); and by Sangamon
Corp., Monrovia, Liberia (Lloyd's, Apr 5, 1960). Always according to Lloyd's, Sangamon
left Galveston, Texas on Mar 9, 1960 bound for Bombay, but ran aground and was towed to Suez, arriving
Apr 2. She was scrapped in Osaka, Japan, starting Aug 1960.

One of twelve National Defense Tankers ordered on 3 January 1938, SS
Esso Trenton was built to a joint Navy-Maritime Commission design.
She was acquired by the Navy in October 1940 and renamed Sangamon.
As a fleet oiler (AO) she would be eventually armed with four 5"/38 guns in single
mounts.

Don Schroeder

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USS Sangamon (ACV-26, later CVE-26), August 1942-October 1945.

Don Schroeder

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USS Sangamon (ACV-26), September 1942, as converted.

Robert Hurst

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Port broadside view of USS Sangamon (CVE-26), 11 September 1942, in Measure
14 camouflage scheme. This photo shows the flight deck loaded with TBF torpedo bombers and SBD dive
bombers. One month later the ship joined Task Force 34 to provide air cover for Operation Torch,
the invasion of North Africa. Photo from the 1943–45 Naval Recognition Manual files.

Mike Green

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The Sangamon (CVE-26), a converted tanker, September 1942. At this time
she was armed with two 5-in/51, eight twin 40-mm, and twelve single 20-mm guns. Note the characteristic
openings in her side above the original tanker deck, designed to facilitate fueling at sea.

From Carrier Air War in Original Color, by Robert Lawson and Barrett Tillman.

Robert Hurst

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Douglas SBD-3 Dauntlesses of VGS-26 and Grumman F4F-4 Wildcats of VGF-26
being spotted on USS Sangamon's (ACV-26) flight deck during Operation Torch, the
invasion of North Africa in November 1942. Distance and other target information for her aircrews
is chalked on the deck.

From Carrier Air War in Original Color, by Robert Lawson and Barrett Tillman.

Note: caption typed below photo identifies the DE as USS Raymond
(DE-341). Sangamon's log, however, clearly states she was actually Richard M. Rowell.

Don Schroeder recalls: "When they brought LT Tatro aboard he had a small wrench partially imbedded
in his forehead. The story was that the wrench was laying on the upper deck and when they accelerated
the PT boat it flew into his forehead. We had a surgeon aboard so they brought him to us."

Don Schroeder

Kamikaze attack, Okinawa, May 4, 1945

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Damage to the flight deck of Sangamon after a kamikaze
attack, May 1945.

He was awarded the Silver Star in May 1945 during the Ryukyu Islands Campaign. Citation: "The President
of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Lieutenant Commander
Fillmore Bolling Gilkeson, United States Navy, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action
against the enemy on 4 May 1945, while in Command of an Air Group aboard an Escort Carrier during the
Ryukyu Islands campaign. Lieutenant Commander Gilkeson displayed aggressive leadership and great personal
courage when his ship was seriously damaged and set afire by enemy action. At the time of the initial
explosion he was present on the forward end of the flight deck where he gathered and organized air
group and ship's personnel in an efficient fire-fighting team, which attacked the flames in spite of
intense heat, smothering smoke and exploding ammunition. Later, on the hangar deck, he assisted actively
in a very dangerous area, again exposed to peril from heat, smoke and exploding ammunition. He, in
particular, incited men to more vigorous action by his complete disregard for his own safety. His
efforts contributed materially to the saving of the ship. His courageous actions were in keeping with
the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service."

"Commander Fillmore Bolling Gilkeson, USN, whose home is in Orange, Virginia, was graduated
from the Naval Academy with the class of 1937. His first duty aboard the USS Ranger
lasted until February, 1940, at which time he started flight training at Pensacola, Florida. After
winning his wings, in January, 1941, Mr. Gilkeson served for over a year as Senior Aviator aboard the
USS Mississippi. He then became
Commanding Officer of Scouting Forty-Three, based at Guantanamo, Cuba, at the time when the submarine
menace in the Caribbean was at its height. He was sent next to Naval Air Station Norfolk, Virginia
as Commanding Officer of the Scouting Observation Unit there, before he underwent operational training
in torpedo-bombers at Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Then followed his assignment as Commanding Officer
of Air Group Thirty-Three in May, 1944, at Alameda, California."

"A Lieutenant Commander at the time he took over the Air Group, Commander Gilkeson received his
promotion shortly before the Group returned to the States."

"Lieutenant Commander Paul Chester Rooney, USN, is a native of Haddam, Kansas. He attended
Kansas State College for two years before attending the United States Naval Academy from which he was
graduated in 1939. Before attending flight school at Pensacola, he served on the old Lexington
for eight months, and on destroyers for two years."

"After being designated a naval aviator he took part in the invasion of Attu as a member of Composite
Squadron Twenty-One. For leading the fighter support in the Battle of Attu, Mr. Rooney was awarded
the Distinguished Flying Cross. Upon the completion of the Attu operation, Mr. Rooney joined Fighting
Squadron Six for a ten-months' tour. While serving with Fighting Squadron Six he took part in the
raids upon Makin Island, Marcus Island, Wake Island, Kwajalein and Truk. He received the Air Medal
for meritorious achievement in shooting down an enemy aircraft in the battle over Truk."